Are the Drones of today the same as the Submarines of years past or the tank when it came out?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 01:12:37 -0400

Drones are a hot topic right now. They are redefining the way we view war and not just battles. We can send in a drone to perform a strike in some country we don't even know we are in and take out the bad guys or just watch while we have some pipe hitters clean up. Some of you might know of the U-2 that was shot down over Russia in 1960. Well we don't have any pilots to worry about anymore. I know Iraq got their hands on a drone but I doubt they will be able to really do anything with it.

Just like in the past Ironclads were thought of being the next big thing. Then submarines would forever change war in the waters. Tanks were thought to alter what we though of war. War always changes. The first to realize this has the upper hand. I think we are at the top on this one.

Is this the new edge in our arsenal that will keep us at the top?

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Aug 18 at 2015 1:29 AM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 01:29:04 -0400

It may be, however, the drones I believe are a lot more controversial than the others. I think the drone's affect is in many cases similar to our aircraft with the exception that no lives in the aircraft are at stake.

When we fielded the UAS when I was the MICO CDR, we treated it just like aircraft where pilots got crew rest, had RL training, etc. It is the natural progression from pilot flown aircraft.

I think the next tank/submarine would have to do with IT and network infrastructure in the sense it would destroy the opposing sides coms systems. This would be game changing in the sense that would impact the battlefield where you need new defense and offensive systems to combat this.

A drone in my opinion can still be shot down by anti-A/C systems and needs the same weather, temp, etc. to work properly.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 18 at 2015 3:17 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 03:17:50 -0400

Nothing "keeps us at the top" except constant weapons development to stay ahead of our real or potential enemies. Once we stop we lose our technological edge.

These drones are very neat to have today since we have a monopoly, but when they start to be used against us we had better have a defense ready - the bad guys ALWAYS close the gap; we are not the only smart people in the world.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 1:33 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:33:00 -0400

Yes.

The problem is that it isn't an edge that will last all that long. Technology advances so rapidly and is replicated so easily (relatively) these days that although the first there enjoys some reprieve at the top, it also costs them (us) significantly more than the second group to find the same technology (copy).

I predict that other countries will have very capable drones in the near future.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 18 at 2015 5:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 17:07:37 -0400

Thus far they are not instrumental in winning, so I won't give drones the recognition the Panzers, Aircraft Carriers, P-51, and Amphibious Landings received for winning wars.